Repairs to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital after the devastating fire in April 2021 are progressing well – albeit slowly – but the Gauteng Department of Health admits there is no budget for the R1.7bn needed for fire compliance measures, which the DA has slammed as unacceptable.
Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the department “is actively exploring various funding options and private investments to support this critical phase”. Already, the initial feasibility report and the concept report have been approved, and a business case is being developed, he told City Press.
The hospital was currently operating at a bed capacity exceeding pre-fire levels, with patient care continuing uninterrupted despite the ongoing construction, he added.
However, the DA’s Jack Bloom said that it was unacceptable that it has taken more than five years to restore the hospital, only for it to remain non-compliant with basic fire prevention laws.
“The DA calls for an urgent, fast-tracked public-private partnership to bring in private expertise, complete the repairs, and ensure the entire facility is fully compliant with fire safety standards without further delay,” he said.
The repairs are in two phases, with phase one focused on repairing blocks four and five north, with completion targeted for August next year. Phase one has been allocated a budget of R426m, with R139m already spent as of April 2025.
The department said major milestones achieved so far include the completion of the radiation oncology unit and the accident and emergency department, now fully operational. A new dry store facility has been built, and fire doors have been installed throughout most parts of the hospital.
Additionally, a temporary access ramp has been constructed, providing 300 parking bays at the P3 level.
But Bloom said lengthy delays like this would never be tolerated in the private sector and that patients paid the price, shuffling from one area to another, and being forced to endure long distances due to inadequate parking.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
What really happened in the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital fire
Gauteng Health denies safety failures in Charlotte Maxeke's R40m fire